Window-cleaning device



MW A. c. JENSEN E WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23, 1924 Patented May 17, 1921.1

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPK 0. mean, WII|LIA1I IOLONEY, AND GEORGE BILTGIN, 01' CHICAGO,

mow-cannula 'navroa.

Application fled October 88, 1924. Serial Il'o. 748,300.

This invention relates in general to window cleaning devices, and more particularly to that type of device wherein one or more strips of rubber, or the like, commonly I termed a squeegee, is employed for cleaning windows and like surfaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device with interchangeable parts. Should any of the parts become worn or damaged, it is not necessary to discard the entire apparatus, as new parts may be readily substituted for the old.

Another important object is to provide a cleaning device with a squeegee that may be readily reversed by an operator without the aid of special tools and without leaving his work, should any of the cleaning surfaces thereof become damaged and in which the mechanism by which this is accomplished does not interfere with the workman and is protected against damage in careless handling.

Another important object is to provide such a device at a low manufacturing cost that is highly eflicient in operation.'

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description when considered in connection with Y.

the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: r Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the clamping strips in open position.

Fig.4 is a perspective view showing one of the clamping springs. Fig. 5 is a section of the squeegee strip.

Referring now to the drawings, We provide a base strip 11 having a handle 12 secured thereto. whichmay be of any suitable form or construction. a clamping strip 13, a squeegee 14 and spring clamping members 15. which will be later described in detail. All metal parts are preferably made of non-corrosive materials.

The base strip 11 is formed of sheet metal, is provided with arcuate grooves 16 and a concavo-convex flange 17, the edge 18 thereof being of sufllcient length to reinforce a squeegee under operating conditions.

The handle 12 may be of any suitable form or construction, in the present instance fromed of sheet metal having a tapered tubular part 13 open alon its axis as shown at 14, bemg adapted to have spring clamplng engagement with an extension handle 15, having notches 41 to admit alocklng and operating screw 42 and bein cut away at 43 to form an extension, WlllCh is secured at 44 by any suitable means to the base strip 11 intermediate theends thereof. A reinforcing rib 21 is provided to make the handle rigid.

The clamping strip 13 is rovided with arcuate grooves 22, a depen ing flange 23 having a bearing in the concavo-convex flange of the base strip 11 and an arm 24 suitably secured thereto at 25. The arm is of suflicient length and adapted to project within the handle 12 and is provided at 26 with the threaded screw 42, the end 27 of' the screw 42 being mutilated after assembly to prevent removal of the screw, the slot 28 is enlarged to permit of operation by coin, screw driver or like article.

The squeegee 14 is preferably of molded rubber having a central body portion 29 formed by ribs 31 and oppositely or outwardly extending cleaning webs 32 providing cleaning surfaces 33.

Each spring member 15 is formed of an annulus split transversely to provide abutments 34 adapted to engage in the recess 35 in the clamping strip 13 and in the recess 36 in the base strip 11. The spring member is provided with a depression 37 opposite the slit1 togreceive the back edge of the strips 11 an '1 With the parts in operative relation (Fig. 2), it will be noted that the arm 24 is secured ,to the handle 12 by means of the screw 42, and that the squeegee 14 is securely clamped by the base strip 11, the clamping strip 13 and the springs 15.. and a rigid struc ture is thus provided. Should the web in use of the squeegee become worn or damaged, it can be readily reversed or a new squeege may be substituted by releasing the screw .42 with a coin, screw driver. or any like article, and pressing thereupon with the thumb as shown in Fig. 8. It will be noted that the arm 24, clamping strip 13 and the flange 28 cooperate to form a lever of the first order, having a bearing in flange 17 of the base strip 11 and that pressing upon the screw 42 being against the springs 15 will rel a e the e 14 to permlt t e r r al reversed ing four cleaning surfaces may four times before a new one is substituted and thereby a material saving is effected.

, It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be apparent from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may he made in the form, construction and arrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim: a

1. 'A window cleaning device, comprisin a tapered tubular handle formed to embrace a handle extension, a base strip having a plurality of arcuate grooves and a concavoconvex flange. on one edge thereof transversely secured intermediate its ends to the handle, a clamping strip having a plurality .of arcuate grooves, a depending flange adapted to engage in the concavo-convex flange of the base strip and an arm secured thereto intermediate the ends thereof adapted to project within the open end of the tapered handle, and means operable to secure the parts in fixed relation, a squeegee strip having a central body portion and out- .wardly extending cleaning webs, said base strip and said clamping strip. being formed to embrace the squeegee and a plurality of spring clamping members adapted to hold said parts in operative relation.

2. A window cleaning device, comprising a squeegee strip having a central body por tion and an outwardly extending cleaning web, a pair of clamping strips formed to embrace said squeegee, said clamping strips being entirely independent and unconnected and one of said strips having a portion adapted to lie loosely and in contact with a portion of the face of the other clamping strip, yieldable means adapted to hold said clamping strips in clamping position about said squeegee, a handle secured to one of said strips and an arm secured to the other strip, said varm cooperating with such strip to cause said strips to open relatively against the tension of said yieldable means to permit the removal of the squeegee.

3. A window cleaning device, compris ing. a squeegee strip, a pair of clamping strips formed to embrace said squeegee strip, spring means engaging the clamping strips and arranged to urge them into clamping position, an operating handle attached to one of said strips, and manually operable means attached to the other of said strips for separating said clamping strips to release the squeegee.

4. A .window cleaning device, comprising, a squeegee strip, a pair of clamping 14 havl 1,eas,7aa

spring means engaging the clampin strips and arranged to. urge them intoc amping position, an operating handle attached to one of said strips, and manually operable means attached to the other of said strips for se arating said clamping strips to release t1e squeegee, said manually operable means being provided with a device adapted for locking said means in fixed position.

5. A window vcleaning device, comprising, a squeegee-strip, a pair of unconnected clamping strips formed to embrace said squeegee, a plurality of split annular spring members unconnected to said strips but embracing them to hold said parts in operative relation, and an operating handle secured to one of said strips.

6. A window cleaning device, comprising, a squeegee strip having a central body portion and outwardly extending cleaning webs, a pair of clamping strips formed to embrace said squeegee, a plurality of independent split annular spring members unconnected to said strips and having hearings in grooves formed in the-strip members for holding the parts in operative relation and an operating handle secured to one of said strips.

7. A window cleaning device, comprising, a squeegee strip having a central body portion and outwardly extending cleaning webs, a pair of independent and unconnected clamping strips formed to embrace said squeegee, a plurality of split annular sprin members having bearings in grooves form in the strip members for holding the parts in operative relation, a handle secured to one of said strips and an arm secured to the opposite strip, said arm and strips cooperating to form a lever of the first order, and having means adapted to secure the parts in fixed relation to facilitate the reversal or replacement of the squeegee and to secure the parts in operative relation.-

8. A window cleaning device, comprising, a squeegee strip, a pair of clamping strips formed to embrace said squeegee, yleldable means for normally holding said parts in operative relation, a tubular handle secured to one of said strips and an arm secured to the opposite strip, said arm cooperating with the strip to form a lever of the first order havin a pivot on the first mentioned strip and hem provided with means adapted to secure t e parts in fixed relation to facilitate the reversal or replacement of the squeegee and to secure the parts in operative relation.

9. A window cleaning device comprising, a squeegee strip, two independent clamping strips loosely contacting and formed to embrace said squeegee, yieldable means for normally holding said strips in operative relation, a handle secured to one of said strips strips formed to embrace said squeegee strip, and an arm secured to the opposite strip, '0

said strips and arm cooperating to form a lever of the first order, said arm having an adjustable member engageable with said handle for locking the arm to the handle while permitting the operation of the arm to actuate its strips whereby to facilitate the removal of said squeegee.

10. A Window cleaning device comprising, a handle, a sheet metal clamping strip carried thereby and formed with a seat, a squeegee adapted to be disposed in said seat with an operative portion rejecting therefrom, an independent comp emental sheet metal strip adapted to cooperate with said first strip to clamp the squeegee in operative position, one of said sheet metal strips having a recess adapted to loosely receive a project ing' portion of the other sheet metal strip so as to form a loose pivotal connection therebetween, means loosely engaging said sheet metal strips to force them to ether and an arm carried by one of said strlps adapted to be actuated to open said strips to permit the replacement 0 said squeegee.

11. A window cleaning device comprising, a handle, a sheet metal strip carried thereby and formed with a recess, a complemental sheet metal strip independent of said first strip and loosely lying thereon with a projecting portion resting in the recess of said first strip to form a pivotal fulcrum, said strips adapted to clamp a squeegee therebetween, resilient means for clamping said strips together and means for causlng one of sai strips to swing about its pivotal fulcrum on the other strip to permit the removal of said squeegee.

12. A window cleaning device comprising, a tubular split handle provided with a forward extension and havin the tubular portion formed with a note a sheet metal clamping strip rigidly carried by said r0- jecting portion of the handle, an indepen ent sheet metal clamping strip loosely restin on said first clamping strip, one of said clamping strips having a recess and the other clampin stri having a toe adapted to loosely lie in said recess to form a fulcrum, an arm rigidly connected to said second clampin strip, said arm extending toward the note said arm having on its extremity a thread ed bolt engagin within said notch, and a plurality of spit tubular springs loosely overlying said clamping strips and adapted to normall press them to ther, and a squeegee a apted to be held 111 position between said clamping strips.

ADOLPH C. JENSEN. WILLIAM MOLONEY. GEORGE BILTGEN.

in the tubular handle and i 

